If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

To pad or not to pad

alright I tried out my new blackbird 1.1 double and love it, now im debating whether or not i even need my sleeping pad OR selling it and getting a thinner one(currently have a thermarest neo air trekker 2+ inches thick) Im thinking maybe one of the self inflating ones might work better like a thermarest trail lite....does the pad float around much while trying to sleep on it? i really dont want to fight it all night long...thanks!

i used a gossamer gear 1/4" pad before i got an underquilt. its 39" x 59" so you dont have the issues of it being to narrow and slipping out, you can trim it to fit, its light ( but a bit bulky to pack) and less than 40 bucks.

For me when it comes to gathered end hammocks I need an underquilt. That keeps me really warm. I love using pads in bridge hammocks because they fit so perfectly in the provided pad pouch. When I was using a pad in the blackbird I kept rolling off of it (restless sleeper). If you are going to sell and buy, look into getting a underquilt maybe instead

I tried to use a pad in my BB last fall when I got caught with colder than expected temps. For me it was a total disaster....I have no idea how the pad got twisted/turned while I was sleeping but by the time I got up most of the pad was pushed out from under me and into the shelf/footbox areas. I haven't tried on the RR but have on the JRB bridge and it seemed to work fine. A pad in the BB just isn't a good option for me.

Despite spending ~$60 on a Big Agnes Air Core pad, I really prefer regular old CCF. It has a tackiness that seems to prevent it from slipping around, and actually the 'comfort' provided by air pads is quite uncomfortable in hammock for me... The only downside is the CCF does act as a VB below you, so you will get some condensation. So far I've been able to minimize that by wearing a base layer to sleep in... But we will see what Summer temps have to say about that.

I bought a hammock to get off the ground and relieve pressures that is felt when sleeping on the ground. Adding a pad made the hammock stiffer, like I was sleeping on the ground. It seems to me, the pad defeats the purpose of a hammock. So far, I've enjoyed sleeping comfortably with my Hammock Gear underquilt. I'll even toss in a mummy style sleeping bag to sleep on top of, adding more fluffy comfort. Just thinking about it makes me wanna set it up right now and go to sleep in the backyard...

Everyone sleeps differently. Don't panic if it doesn't work out the first time. Have a backup plan in case it doesn't work out. Learning is half the battle.

Last edited by cesnyderces; 02-22-2013 at 00:04.
Reason: grammar improved, to had

I've used pads and they have worked for me for many years. I've used Thermarests, big Agnes, Ridge rest and CCF of various types. After a while, although asleep, I find you get somewhat conscious to the pad beneath you and don' squirm around as much and still get a good sleep. The double layer is great for pad placement.

Just get one wide enough or you bounce back and forth all night as you play "cold shoulder ping pong" as your sides touch the uninsulated sides of the hammock off the pad.

I don't think anyone pointed out the width issue in plain language. A pad underneath helps with CBS but you also need some side insulation. A wide pad like Gossamer Gear sells or a SPE like Shug pictured puts some insulation up where your shoulders/arms/knees can come in contact with the sides of he hammock. They are at the same temperature as the surrounding air. Down collapses under pressure and you get a cold spot.

Quits address it by being wide enough to insulate the cold spots on the outside.

Pads need to be wide enough to wrap around your shoulders and maybe your knees. The easy low cost way is to cross two CCF pads between the layers. They can be cut to lengths that suite. Increasing in price is the wide pads than the SPE. OTOH the SPE lets one use smaller pads that are easier to handle.

The relatively low compressibility of CCF makes it easy to use between layers that also more or less hold it in place. That will not work as well with an air pad but you can put that inside.

I'd start with two CCF pads. The better one's have smaller pores if there is a choice. They are softer to fold around you but still do not compress much. ;-)